Herbicide compositions and weedkilling method using the same

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a herbicide composition consisting of 2-[(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl)hydroxy-methyl]-6-methoxymethyl-N-difluoromethanesulfonylanilide as the component (A) and any compound selected from more than 20 kinds of specific compounds such as orbencarb and the like as the component (B), heretofore not combined with the component (A) compound. Dispensation of the herbicide composition to paddy fields, lawns, dry fields, or non-agricultural lands gives excellent weed-controlling effects on a variety of weeds and causes no or little phytotoxicities on valuable cultivated plants.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to an innovative herbicide composition and amethod for weed-controlling by using the same, more particularly, to aninnovative herbicide composition capable of effectively preventing weedgrowth and removing various types of weeds growing in paddy fields,lawns, dry fields, or non-agricultural lands, above all, in irrigatedpaddy fields even only by one time dispensation without inhibitinggrowth of valuable cultivated plants such as rice, barley and wheat,etc., lawn grasses and the like and a method for weed-controllinggrasses out of paddy fields, lawns, dry fields, or non-agriculturallands by dispensing the herbicide composition.

BACKGROUND ART

Various kinds of herbicides have been developed so far and havecontributed to agricultural productivity and laborsaving. However, sincethere are some kinds of herbicides which have been used so many years,some weeds have become resistant to them and hardly destroyable weedsagainst which those herbicides are not or little effective have beenincreasing and therefore, it has been highly expected to developherbicides having a wide herbicide spectrum and effective even againstthese hardly destroyable weeds.

Further, conventional herbicides often cause pollution of soil andambient environmental pollution and, in order to prevent suchenvironmental pollution, development of herbicides highly active andeffective even in a small amount of use has been desired.

Besides, to deal with uneven propagation of weeds for a long period,herbicides excellent in residual effectiveness, effective even bydispensation in a wide range of periods before development of weedsuntil the growing period and having a wide range of proper dispensingtime have been expected to be available.

Moreover, it is well known that with respect to use of conventionalherbicides, phytotoxicities are sometimes caused on cultivated plantsdepending on a variety of factors relative to weather conditions such astemperature, wind, light, and the like; soil conditions such as soilproperties, organic compound contents in soil, and the like; plantingmanagement conditions such as shallow transplantation depth, use offragile and too long seedling, deep water control and the like; chemicalagent dispensation conditions such as uneven spraying, excess sprayingof herbicides and the like, appearance of herbicides highly safe andfree from a risk of occurrence of damages on cultivated plants in anyconditions has been desired.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to provide a herbicide composition,especially, a herbicide composition for removing weeds growing in paddyfields, lawns, dry fields, or non-agricultural lands and aweed-controlling method using the same for removing weeds out of paddyfields, lawns, dry fields, or non-agricultural lands.

On the basis of enthusiastic investigations made to satisfy theabove-mentioned expectations, the inventors of the invention have foundthat when2-[(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl)hydroxymethyl]-6-methoxymethyl-N-difluoromethanesulfonyl-anilide,which is known as an effective component of a herbicide, is used singly,no effective weed-controlling on weeds grown to an advanced state orperennial weeds growing in paddy fields and the like is obtained unlessit is used in a high concentration and therefore, phytotoxicities arecaused on cultivated plants such as rice, while unexpectedly, only asingle dispensation of a low concentration of it in combination withcertain kinds of compounds can prevent growth of a wide range of weedsgrowing in paddy fields, lawns, dry fields, or non-agricultural lands orremove them over a long time and that valuable cultivated plants such asrice, barley and wheat, etc., and lawn grasses are not or little damagedand based on the findings, inventors have accomplished the invention.

That is, the invention provides a herbicide composition comprises, aseffective components, (A)2-[(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl)hydroxymethyl]-6-methoxymethyl-N-difluoromethanesulfonylanilideand (B) a compound selected from the group consisting ofS-2-chlorobenzyl diethylthiocarbamate (orbencarb),S-2-benzenesulfonamidoethyl O,O-diisopropyl phosphorodithioate(bensulide), methyl sulfanilylcarbamate (asulam),3′,4′-dichloropropionanilide (propanil), ethyl(RS)-2-chloro-3-[2-chloro-5-(4-difluoromethyl-4,5-dihydro-3-methyl-5-oxo-1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-4-fluorophenyl]propionate(carfentrazone-ethyl), 1-(2-methylcyclohexyl)-3-phenylurea (siduron),5-dipropylamino-α,α,α-trifluoro-4,6-dinitro-o-toluidine (prodiamine),N-(1-ethylpropyl)-2,6-dinitro-3,4-xylidine (pendimethalin),N-butyl-N-ethyl-α,α,α-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-p-toluidine (benfluralin),butyl (R)-2-[4-(4-cyano-2-fluorophenoxy)phenoxy]propionate(cyhalofop-butyl), ethyl(R)-2-[4-(6-chlorobenzoxazol-2-yloxy)phenoxy]propionate(fenoxaprop-(P)-ethyl),ethyl(±)-2-[4-(6-chlorobenzoxazol-2-yloxy)phenoxy]propionate(fenoxaprop-ethyl),2-{1-[2-(4-chlorophenoxy)prop-oxyimino]butyl}-3-hydroxy-5-(thian-3-yl)cyclohex-2-enone(profoxydim),(±)-(EZ)-2-(1-ethoxyiminobutyl)-5-[2-(ethylthio)propyl]-3-hydroxycyclohex-2-enone(sethoxydim), benzophenoneO-[2,6-bis(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yloxy)benzoyl]oxime (pyribenzoxim),(1RS,2SR,4SR)-1,4-epoxy-p-menth-2-yl 2-methylbenzyl ether (cinmethylin),3,7-dichloroquinoline-8-carboxylic acid (quinclorac),N-(4-methoxy-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)-N′-(2-methoxycarbon-ylphenylsulfonyl)urea(metsulfuron-methyl),1-(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl)-3-mesyl(methyl)sulfamoylurea(amidosulfuron),2′,4′-difluoro-2-(α,α,α-trifluoro-m-tolyloxy)nicotinanilide(diflufenican), 3-(4-isopropylphenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (isoproturon),2,6-bis(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yloxy)benzoic acid (bispyribac) andsalts thereof, N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine (glyphosate) and saltsthereof, 4-[hydroxy(methyl)phosphinoyl]-DL-homoalanine (glufosinate) andsalts thereof, and4-[hydroxy(methyl)phosphinoyl]-L-homoalanyl-L-alanyl-L-alanine(bilanafos) and salts thereof and a weed-controlling methodcharacterized by removing weeds by spraying the herbicide composition topaddy fields, lawns, dry fields, or non-agricultural lands.

In the following description, the compounds as the component (B) may bereferenced by their common names for convenience.

BEST MODE FOR PRACTICING OF THE INVENTION

2-[(4,6-Dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl)hydroxymethyl]-6-methoxymethyl-N-difluoromethanesulfonylanilideto be used as the component (A) in the herbicide composition of theinvention is a compound excellent in an weed-controlling effect in a lowconcentration and having a wide herbicide spectrum (Japanese PatentApplication Laid-Open No. 2000-44546) but, however, it is needed todispense it in a high concentration to prevent growth of weeds havinggrown to an advanced state and perennial weeds and remove them and inthe case of its use in a high concentration, there occurs a problem thatthe safety of valuable cultivated plants such as rice, barley and wheat,etc., lawn grasses and the like is degraded.

However, in the case of its use in combination with either one of morethan 20 kinds of the compounds to be used as the component (B)aforementioned, even if it be used in a low concentration, an excellentweed-controlling effect even on weeds grown to an advanced state andperennial weeds can be achieved and dispensation can be carried outsafely for rice, barley and wheat, etc. as well as lawn grasses.

Among the compounds to be used as the component (B), propanil,carfentrazone-ethyl, cyhalofop-butyl, fenoxaprop-(P)-ethyl,fenoxapropethyl, profoxydim, sethoxydim, bispyribac and salts thereof,pyribenzoxim, cinmethylin, and quinclorac are commonly used asherbicides in paddy fields; orbencarb, bensulide, asulam, siduron,prodiamine, pendimethalin, benfluralin, carfentrazone-ethyl, andcinmethylin as herbicides in lawns; metsulfuron-methyl, amidosulfuron,diflufenican and isoproturon as herbicides in dry fields or,particularly, in dry fields for barley and wheat, etc.; and glyphosate,glufosinate and bilanaphos as herbicides in non-agricultural lands. Itis difficult with any one alone of these chemical compounds to preventgrowth of and to remove all kinds of weeds such as weeds of the familyof Gramineae, wide-leaf perennial weeds, perennial weeds of the familyof Cyperaceae, and the like simultaneously from the time beforedevelopment of these weeds to the time of the growth. Further, toprevent growth of weeds having grown to an advanced state and perennialweeds or remove them, dispensation of the chemical agents in a highconcentration is required and in the case of use of them in a highconcentration, there occurs a problem that the safety of valuablecultivated plants such as rice, barley and wheat, etc., and lawn grassesis degraded.

With respect to the herbicide composition of the invention, thecomponent (B) is used in combination with the component (A).

Use of the herbicide composition of the invention exhibits aweed-controlling effect quickly as compared with that in the case whereeach alone of the components is used and weed-controlling can be quicklyperformed. Moreover, the herbicide composition shows a weed-controllingeffect so high as not to be obtained with one of the respective agentscontaining a single kind of the compounds.

In the case where the herbicide composition of the invention is used asa herbicide in paddy fields, lawns, dry fields, or non-agriculturallands, above all, as a herbicide in paddy fields or for rice (Oryzasativa), it has a wide range of proper chemical agent treatment periodas compared with that of known herbicides, especially, a herbicide inpaddy fields or for rice, shows a high weed-controlling activity on notonly common weeds but also hardly destroyable weeds from the time beforethe budding of weeds to the time of the developing period, so that it iscapable of suppressing propagation of weeds for a long term without orwith little inhibition of the growth of cultivated plants.

That is, the herbicide composition of the invention can prevent growthof and remove weeds in the wide range for a long term from the timebefore the budding of the weeds to the time of the developing period andshows high safety to valuable cultivated plants such as rice, barley andwheat, etc., lawn grasses and others. The target weeds include, forexample, in paddy fields, as annual weeds, weeds of the family ofGramineae including Echinochloa species such as early watergrass(Echinochloa oryzicola), barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli var.crus-galli) and the like and AZEGAYA (Leptochloa chinensis); Cyperusspecies such as smallflower umbrella plant (Cyperus difformis),HINA-GAYATSURI (Cyperus flaccidus) and the like; weeds of the family ofPontederiaceae such as heartshape false pickerelweed (Monochoriavaginalis), MIZU-AOI (Monochoria korsakowii) and the like; weeds of thefamily of Scrophulariaceae such as Linderina species, dopatrium(Dopatrium junceum) and the like; weeds of the family of Lythraceae suchas indian toothcup (Rotala indica), HIME-MISO-HAGI (Ammannia multiflora)and the like; MIZO-HAKOBE (Elatine triandra) and others; as well as, asperennial weeds, weeds of the family of Alismataceae such as URIKAWA(Sagittaria pygmaea), arrow head (Sagittaria trifolia) and the like;weeds of the family of Cyperaceae such as MIZU-GAYATSURI (Cyperusserotinus), SHIZUI (Scirpus nipponicus), KUROGUWAI (Eleochariskuroguwai), INU-HOTARU-I (Scirpus juncoides), KOUKIYAGARA (Scirpusplaniculmis), needle spikerush (Eleocharis acicularis) and the like;roundleaf pondweed (Potamogeton distinctus); SERI (Oenanthe javanica)and others; and in lawns, dry fields and orchards, weeds of the familyof Gramineae such as Echinochloa species, Digitaria species, Setariaspecies, annual bluegrass (Poa annua), blackgrass (Alopecurusmyosuroides), goosegrass (Eleusine indica) and the like; weeds of thefamily of Compositae such as annual fleabane (Erigeron annuus),philadelphia fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus), broad-leaved fleabane(Erigeron floribundus) and the like; weeds of the family of Cyperus suchas purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus), yellow nutsedge (Cyperusesculentus), HIMEKUGU (Cyperus brevifolius), KAYATSURI GUSA (Cyperusmicroiria) and the like; weeds of the family of Chenopodiaceae such ascommon lambsquarters (Chenopodium album) and the like; weeds of thefamily of Caryophyllaceae such as MIMINAGUSA (Cerastium holosteoides),common chickweed (Stellaria media) and the like; weeds of the family ofScrophulariaceae such as Veronica species; weeds of the family ofPolygonaceae such as Polygonum species including OOINUTADE (Polygonumlapathifolium) and the like and Rumex species; weeds of the family ofAmaranthaceae such as slender amaranth (Amaranthus viridis), lividamaranth (Amaranthus lividus) and the like; weeds of the family ofLamiaceae such as henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) and the like; weeds ofthe family of Rubiaceae such as catchweed bedstraw (Galium spurium) andthe like; weeds of the family of Commelinaceae such as common dayflower(Commelina communis), tropical spiderwort (Commelina benghalensis) andthe like; weeds of the family of Equisetaceae such as field horsetail(Equisetum arvense), marsh horsetail (Equisetum palustre) and the like;weeds of the family of Euphorbiaceae such as Euphorbia species; weeds ofthe family of Umbelliferae such as Hydrocotyle species; and others.

The mixing ratio of the components (A) and (B) in the herbicidecomposition of the invention is preferably made different depending onthe types and states of weeds, the dispensation period and method,formulation forms and the like and in general, per 1 part by mass of thecomponent (A), the component (B) may be taken in the range of 0.1 to2,000 parts by mass, preferably 0.2 to 1,500 parts by mass, and morepreferably 0.5 to 1,000 parts by mass.

With regard to the mixing ratio of the particular compounds as thecomponent (B) to the component (A), per 1 part by mass of the component(A), preferable amounts of the component (B) compounds to be takeninclude 0.1 to 10 parts by mass of metsulfuron-methyl, 0.2 to 20 partsby mass of bispyribac or salts thereof, pyribenzoxim or amidosulfuron,0.5 to 50 parts by mass of profoxydim or sethoxydim, 0.5 to 100 parts bymass of fenoxaprop-(P)-ethyl, fenoxaprop-ethyl or diflufenican, 1 to 200parts by mass of glyphosate, glufosinate or bilanafos, 3 to 200 parts bymass of pendimethalin, cinmethylin, benfluralin or bensulide, 5 to 300parts by mass of orbencarb, prodiamine, cyhalofop-butyl orcarfentrazone-ethyl, 10 to 1000 parts by mass of asulam, siduron orisoproturon and 50 to 1000 parts by mass of propanil.

As the component (B), the above-mentioned various compounds may be usedsingly or two or more of them can be selected and used in combination.

The particularly preferable ones as the component (B) includemetsulfuron-methyl, bispyribac or salts thereof, amidosulfuron,diflufenican, fenoxaprop-(P)-ethyl, fenoxaprop-ethyl, orbencarb,prodiamine, pendimethalin, benfluralin, siduron, isoproturon andpropanil.

The herbicide composition of the invention may contain an insecticide, afungicide, and other herbicides as well as plant growth adjustmentagents, fertilizers and the like according to need.

At the time of dispensation, with respect to the herbicide compositionof the invention, only effective components may be used as such, but itis preferable to use them with a carrier, a surfactant, a dispersant, anauxiliary agent and the like, which are used conventionally informulations, in a form of a powder agent, a hydrated agent, a hydratedgranular agent, a flowable agent, an emulsified agent, a liquid agent, afinely granulated agent, a granulated agent and the like.

As the carrier used for the formulations, for example, solid carriers oftalc, bentonite, clay, kaolin, diatomaceous earth, fumed silica (whitecarbon), vermiculite, calcium carbonate, slaked lime, silica sand,ammonium sulfate, urea and the like; and liquid carriers of isopropylalcohol, xylene, cyclohexane, methylnaphthalene, water and the like canbe exemplified.

As the surfactant and dispersant, for example, alkylbenzenesulfonic acidsalts, alkylnaphthalenesulfonic acid-formaldehyde condensate productsalts, alcohol sulfuric acid ester salts, alkylarylsulfonic acid salts,lignin sulfonic acid salts, polyoxyethylene glycol ethers,polyoxyethylene alkylaryl ethers, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monoalkylateand the like can be named as examples.

As the auxiliary agent, for example, carboxymethylcellulose,polyethylene glycol, gum Arabic and the like can be named as examples.

At the time of using the herbicide composition of the invention, it maybe used either directly or may be diluted to a concentration dependingon the use purpose and used for stems-and-leaves treatment by sprayingto soil or water surface.

The amounts of the effective components in a formulation of theherbicide composition of the invention are properly selected based onthe necessity. For example, they are selected from a range of 0.01 to80% by mass, preferably 0.05 to 50% by mass, in the case of a powderagent, a finely granular agent, or a granular agent and from a range of1 to 90% by mass, preferably 5 to 80% by mass, in the case of anemulsified agent, a liquid agent, a flowable agent, or a hydrated agent.

The dispensation amount of the herbicide composition of the inventiondiffers depending on the types of the component (B) in the effectivecomponents; the target weeds to be removed; the growing tendency of thetarget weeds; the environmental conditions; formulations and the like.

For example, in the case of a powder agent, a finely granular agent or agranular agent, the total amount of the components (A) and (B) isselected in the range of 0.1 g to 5 kg or, preferably, 1 g to 1 kg, per10 ares area.

In the case of dispensing an emulsified agent, a liquid agent, aflowable agent or a hydrated agent after dilution with water, the totalconcentration of the components (A) and (B) at the time of dispensationis selected usually in a range of 10 to 500,000 ppm or, preferably, 10to 100,000 ppm.

Hereinafter, the invention will be described in more detail by way ofExamples, but it is not intended that the present invention be limitedto the following embodiments. The types of effective components andadditives, the mixing ratios and the like are not limited to theseExamples and various modifications may occur to those skilled in the artwithout deviating from the scope of the invention.

The term “parts” means “parts by mass” in the following description.

EXAMPLE 1

A hydrated agent was prepared by mixing 1 part of2-[(4,6-dimethoxy-pyrimidin-2-yl)hydroxymethyl]-6-methoxymethyl-N-difluoromethanesulfonylanilide(hereinafter, referred to as Compound A), 12 parts ofcarfentrazone-ethyl, 0.5 part of polyoxyethylene octylphenyl ether, 0.5part of β-naphthalenesulfonic acid-formalin condensate sodium salt, 20parts of diatomaceous earth, and 66 parts of clay and pulverizing theblend thus obtained.

EXAMPLE 2

A hydrated agent was prepared by mixing 2 parts of Compound A, 20 partsof fenoxaprop-ethyl, 0.5 part of polyoxyethylene octylphenyl ether, 0.5part of β-naphthalenesulfonic acid-formalin condensate sodium salt, 20parts of diatomaceous earth, 5 parts of fumed silica (white carbon), and52 parts of clay and pulverizing the blend thus obtained.

EXAMPLE 3

A hydrated agent was prepared by mixing 1 part of Compound A, 10 partsof pendimethalin, 0.5 part of polyoxyethylene octylphenyl ether, 0.5part of β-naphthalenesulfonic acid-formalin condensate sodium salt, 20parts of diatomaceous earth, 5 parts of fumed silica (white carbon), and63 parts of calcium carbonate and pulverizing the blend thus obtained.

EXAMPLE 4

A hydrated granular agent was prepared by adding 5 parts of sodiumlignin sulfonate, 1 part of polyoxyethylene alkylaryl ether, 3 parts ofsodium polycarboxylate, 5 parts of fumed silica (white carbon), 1 partof α-starch, 65 parts of calcium carbonate and 10 parts of water to 10parts of Compound A and 10 parts of profoxydim, mixing and kneading theblend thus obtained, extrusion-granulating the mixture, and drying thethus obtained granular product by a fluidized bed dryer.

EXAMPLE 5

A flowable agent was prepared by adding 5 parts of Compound A, 10 partsof bispyribac sodium salt, 2 parts of sodium lignin sulfonate, 4 partsof polyoxyethylene alkylaryl ammonium sulfate, 0.5 part ofpolyoxyethylene alkylaryl ether, 0.1 part of xanthan gum, 0.5 part ofbentonite, and 10 parts of ethyleneglycol to 67.9 parts of water, mixingthe thus obtained mixture by a high speed agitator, and pulverizing themixed mixture by a wet pulverizer.

EXAMPLE 6

A granular agent was prepared by adding 10 parts of water to 1 part ofCompound A, 14 parts of orbencarb, 70 parts of an extender which was amixture of talc and bentonite at 1:3 ratio, 10 parts of fumed silica(white carbon), 5 parts of a mixture of polyoxyethylene sorbitanalkylate, polyoxyethylene alkylaryl polymer and alkylaryl sulfonate,thoroughly mixing and kneading the thus obtained mixture to obtain apasty mixture, extruding the mixture through a screen of 1 mm meshopening, drying the extruded mixture, and then chopping the thusobtained product in a 0.5 to 1 mm length.

In the following, the effects of the respective herbicide compositionsof the invention will be described by way of the Test Examples.

TEST EXAMPLE 1 Weed-Controlling Effect Test on Direct-Sowing Paddy-Riceby Stems-and-Leaves Treatment

Paddy field soil was packed in a plastic pot with a 1/2000 are surfacearea, respective seeds of Oryza sativa (Or), Echinochloa oryzicola (Eo),Digitaria ciliaris (Di), and Leptochloa chinensis (Le) were sowed andwater was supplied from the bottom part of the pot. Paddy field soil waspacked in another plastic pot with a 1/2000 are surface area, water wasintroduced into the pot, and the soil was shuffled. After that, tuberousroots of Cyperus esculentus (Cy) and Sagittaria trifolia (Sa) wereburied in the soil and immersed in water in 1 cm depth. The plants weregrown at an average temperature of around 23 to 25° C. outdoors and whenthe Echinochloa oryzicola grew to the 2.5 leaves stage, specifiedamounts of the hydrated agents prepared in the same manner as in Example1 diluted with water were sprayed to whole plants for stems-and-leavestreatment. After that, plants growth was carried out outdoors and theair-dried weights of the respective plant bodies above the soil weremeasured on the 28th day after the treatment, and the weed-controllingeffects and the phytotoxicities of the agents were shown as indexes onthe basis of the criteria as shown in Table 1. The results are shown inTable 2. The dosages were indicated on the basis of the amounts of theeffective components per 10 ares area.

TABLE 1 Weed-controlling effect and phytotoxicity degree of agent Index(Growth inhibition degree in portions above soil) 10 95% or highergrowth inhibition 9 Not less than 85% but less than 95% growthinhibition 8 Not less than 75% but less than 85% growth inhibition 7 Notless than 65% but less than 75% growth inhibition 6 Not less than 55%but less than 65% growth inhibition 5 Not less than 45% but less than55% growth inhibition 4 Not less than 35% but less than 45% growthinhibition 3 Not less than 25% but less than 35% growth inhibition 2 notless than 15% but less than 25% growth inhibition 1 not less than 5% butless than 15% growth inhibition 0 not less than 0% but less than 5%growth inhibition

TABLE 2 Weed-controlling Compounds Dosages, effect Phytotoxicity testedgai/10 ares Eo Di Le Cy Sa Or Compound A +  0.5 + 300 10 10 10 8 10 0propanil propanil 300 5 7 6 1 2 0 Compound A + 0.5 + 20  10 10 10 — — 0cyhalofop-butyl cyhalofop-butyl 20 9 8 9 — — 0 Compound A + 0.5 + 6   105 — 8 10 0 carfentrazone- ethyl carfentrazone- 6 4 3 — 1 9 2 ethylCompound A + 0.5 + 5   10 10 10 — — 1 fenoxaprop-ethyl fenoxaprop-ethyl5 10 10 10 — — 5 Compound A + 0.5 + 0.5 10 10 10 — — 0 profoxydimprofoxydim 0.5 10 8 9 — — 1 Compound A + 0.5 + 1   10 10 10 — — 0sethoxydim sethoxydim 1 9 7 8 — — 1 Compound A + 0.5 + 1.5 10 5 6 10 100 bispyribac sodium salt bispyribac sodium 1.5 8 1 1 3 8 0 salt CompoundA + 0.5 + 2   10 6 6 10 10 0 pyribenzoxim pyribenzoxim 2 8 2 1 5 7 0Compound A +  0.5 + 12.5 10 4 2 9 10 0 quinclorac quinclorac 12.5 10 3 12 3 0 Compound A 0.5 7 0 0 5 8 0

TEST EXAMPLE 2 Weed-controlling Effect Test on Lawn Weeds by SoilTreatment

A dry-field soil was packed in a 15 cm by 25 cm plastic pot of 10 cmheight and Zoysia tenuifolia Willd. (Zo) separately grown for 1 year wasimplanted and respective seeds of Digitaria ciliaris (Di), Setariaviridis (Se), Chenopodium album (Ch), and Polygonum lapathifolium (Po),and Amaranthus viridis (Am) were sowed and water irrigation was carriedout. On the next day, specified amounts of the hydrated agents preparedin the same manner as in Example 1 diluted with 100 liters of water weresprayed per 10 ares evenly over the soil surface and stems and leaves ofZoysia tenuifolia Willd. After that, plants growth was carried out in agreenhouse and the air-dried weights of the respective plant bodiesabove the soil were measured on the 20th day after the treatment and theweed-controlling effects and the phytotoxicities of the agents wereshown as indexes on the basis of the criteria as shown in Table 1. Theresults are shown in Table 3. The dosages were indicated on the basis ofthe amounts of the effective components per 10 ares area.

TABLE 3 Compounds Dosages, Weed-controlling effect Phytotoxicity testedgai/10 ares Di Se Ch Po Am Zo Compound A + 2 + 50 10 10 10 10 10 0orbencarb Orbencarb 50 8 9 0 0 1 0 Compound A +  2 + 100 10 10 10 10 100 siduron Siduron 100  9 9 6 4 3 0 Compound A + 2 + 50 10 10 10 10 10 0prodiamine Prodiamine 50 9 8 5 4 5 0 Compound A + 2 + 20 10 10 10 10 100 pendimethalin Pendimethalin 20 7 6 3 3 4 0 Compound A + 2 + 70 10 1010 10 10 0 benfluralin Benfluralin 70 9 9 5 6 5 0 Compound A + 2 + 20 1010 10 10 10 0 cinmethylin Cinmethylin 20 9 8 3 1 3 0 Compound A  2 5 3 78 7 0

TEST EXAMPLE 3 Weed-controlling Effect Test by Stems-and-leavesTreatment

A dry-field soil was packed in a plastic pot with 1/2000 are surfacearea, respective seeds of Echinochloa crus-galli var. crus-galli (Ec),Digitaria ciliaris (Di), Polygonum lapathifolium (Po), Amaranthusviridis (Am) and Chenopodium album (Ch) were sowed and water wassupplied from the bottom part of the pot. The plants were grown at anaverage temperature of around 23 to 25° C. in a greenhouse and when theEchinochloa crus-galli var. crus-galli reached the 3.5 leaves stage,specified amounts of the hydrated agents prepared in the same manner asin Example 1 diluted with water were sprayed to entire plants forstems-and-leaves treatment. After that, plants growth was carried outagain in the greenhouse and the air-dried weights of the respectiveplant bodies above the soil were measured on the 20th day after thetreatment and the weed-controlling effects and the phytotoxicities ofthe agents were shown as indexes on the basis of the criteria as shownin Table 1. The results are shown in Table 4. The dosages were indicatedon the basis of the amounts of the effective components per 10 aresarea.

TABLE 4 Compounds Dosages, Weed-controlling effect tested gai/10 ares EcDi Po Am Ch Compound A + glyphosate 1 + 5 10 10 10 10 10 ammonium saltglyphosate 5 7 8 2 8 6 ammonium salt Compound A + glufosinate 1 + 8 1010 10 10 10 ammonium salt glufosinate 8 5 9 6 8 9 ammonium salt CompoundA + bilanafos 1 + 4 10 10 10 10 10 sodium salt bilanafos 4 4 7 6 5 3sodium salt Compound A + asulam  1 + 80 10 10 10 10 10 Asulam 80  8 7 02 2 Compound A 1 4 6 8 7 7

TEST EXAMPLE 4 Weed-controlling Effect Test on Wheat by Stems-and-leavesTreatment

A dry-field soil was packed in a plastic pot with 1/2000 are surfacearea, respective seeds of wheat (Triticum aestivum) (Tr), Alopecurusmyosuroides (Al), Poa annua (Pa), Stellaria media (St), Lamiumamplexicaule (La) and Galium spurium (Ga) were sowed and water wassupplied from the bottom part of the pot. The plants were grown at anaverage temperature of around 15 to 17° C. in a greenhouse and whenwheat reached the 3.5 leaves stage, specified amounts of the hydratedagents prepared in the same manner as in Example 2 diluted with waterwere sprayed to entire plants for stems-and-leaves treatment. Afterthat, plants growth was carried out again in the greenhouse and theair-dried weights of the respective plant bodies above the soil weremeasured on the 30th day after the treatment and the weed-controllingeffects and the phytotoxicities of the agents were shown as indexes onthe basis of the criteria as shown in Table 1. The results are shown inTable 5. The dosages were shown on the basis of the amounts of theeffective components per 10 ares area.

TABLE 5 Compounds Dosages, Weed-controlling effect Phytotoxicity testedgai/10 ares Al Pa St La Ga Tr Compound A + 3 + 1.5 9 10 10 10 10 0bispyribac sodium salt bispyribac 1.5 6 8 8 7 8 0 sodium salt CompoundA + 3 + 4   10 9 8 8 7 0 fenoxaprop-ethyl fenoxaprop-ethyl 4 8 0 0 0 0 0Compound A + 3 + 0.4 9 9 10 10 8 0 metsulfuron-methyl metsulfuron- 0.4 03 8 8 3 0 methyl Compound A + 3 + 1.5 9 9 8 8 8 0 amidosulfuronamidosulfuron 1.5 0 0 2 0 8 0 Compound A + 3 + 4   8 8 10 10 10 0diflufenican diflufenican 4 0 0 5 5 6 0 Compound A + 3 + 75  10 10 9 8 80 isoproturon isoproturon 75 9 7 3 0 0 0 Compound A 3 6 7 4 3 4 0

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

Owing to a synergistic effect of the effective components;2-[(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl)hydroxymethyl]-6-methoxymethyl-N-difluoromethanesulfonylanilideand at least one compound selected from orbencarb, bensulide, asulam,propanil, carfentrazone-ethyl, siduron, prodiamine, pendimethalin,benfluralin, cyhalofop-butyl, fenoxaprop-(P)-ethyl, fenoxaprop-ethyl,profoxydim, sethoxydim, pyribenzoxim, cinmethylin, quinclorac,metsulfuron-methyl, amidosulfuron, diflufenican, isoproturon, bispyribacand salts thereof, glyphosate and salts thereof, glufosinate and saltsthereof, and bilanafos and salts thereof, the herbicide compositions ofthe invention exhibit quick weed-controlling effects and are capable ofcarrying out weed-controlling. The compositions show highweed-controlling effects even in a low effective component concentrationand at the same time have a wide herbicide spectrum.

When a herbicide composition of the invention is used as a herbicide forpaddy fields, lawns, dry fields, or non-agricultural lands, above all,as a herbicide in paddy fields or for rice, it has a wide range ofproper chemical agent treatment period as compared with that of knownherbicides, shows a high weed-controlling activity on hardly destroyableweeds from the days before budding of weeds to the time of thedeveloping period, and suppresses propagation of weeds for a long termwithout or with little inhibition of the growth of valuable cultivatedplants.

That is, the herbicide composition of the invention can prevent growthof and remove annual weeds such as early watergrass (Echinochloaoryzicola), barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli var. crus-galli),smallflower umbrella plant (Cyperus difformis), HINA-GAYATSURI (Cyperusflaccidus), heartshape false pickerelweed (Monochoria vaginalis),MIZU-AOI (Monochoria korsakowii), Linderina species, dopatrium(Dopatrium junceum), indian toothcup (Rotala indica), MIZO-HAKOBE(Elatine triandra), HIME-MISO-HAGI (Ammannia multiflora) and the like,and perennial weeds such as URIKAWA (Sagittaria pygmaea), arrow head(Sagittaria trifolia) and the like, roundleaf pondweed (Potamogetondistinctus), SERI (Oenanthe javanica), MIZU-GAYATSURI (Cyperusserotinus), SHIZUI (Scirpus nipponicus), KUROGUWAI (Eleochariskuroguwai), INU-HOTARU-I (Scirpus juncoides), KOUKIYAGARA (Scirpusplaniculmis), needle spikerush (Eleocharis acicularis) and the like fora long term from the days before budding of the weeds to the time of thedeveloping period.

Moreover, the herbicide composition of the invention is highly safe tovaluable cultivated plants, especially to rice, barley and wheat, lawngrasses and others.

1. A herbicide composition which comprises, as a blend, (A)2-[(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl)hydroxymethyl]-6-methoxymethyl-N-difluoromethanesulfonylanilideand (B) a compound selected from the group consisting of (1)S-2-chloro-benzyl diethyl-thiocarbamate (orbencarb), (2)S-2-benzenesulfonamidoethyl O,O-diisopropyl phosphorodithioate(bensulide), (3) methyl sulfanilylcarbamate (asulam), (4)3′,4′-dichloropropionanilide (propanil), (5) ethyl(RS)-2-chloro-3-[2-chloro-5-(4-difluoromethyl-4,5-dihydro-3-methyl-5-oxo-1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-4-fluorophenyl]propionate(carfentrazone-ethyl), (6) 1-(2-methylcyclohexyl)-3-phenylurea(siduron), (7) 5-dipropyl-amino-α,α,α-trifluoro-4,6-dinitro-o-toluidine(prodiamine), (8) N-(1-ethylpropyl)-2,6-dinitro-3,4-xylidine(pendimethalin), (9)N-butyl-N-ethyl-α,α,α-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-p-toluidine (benfluralin),(10) butyl (R)-2-[4-(4-cyano-2-fluorophenoxy)phenoxy]propionate(cyhalofopbutyl), (11) ethyl(R)-2-[4-(6-chlorobenzoxazol-2-yloxy)phenoxy]propionate(fenoxaprop-(P)-ethyl), (12)ethyl(±)-2-[4-(6-chlorobenzoxazol-2-yloxy)-phenoxy]propionate(fenoxaprop-ethyl), (13)2-{1-[2-(4-chlorophenoxy)propoxyimino]butyl}-3-hydroxy-5-(thian-3-yl)cyclohex-2-enone(profoxydim), (14)(±)-(EZ)-2-(1-ethoxyiminobutyl)-5-[2-(ethylthio)propyl]-3-hydroxycyclohex-2-enone(sethoxydim), (15) benzophenoneO-[2,6-bis(4,6-dimethoxy-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)benzoyl]oxime (pyribenzoxim),(16) (1RS,2SR,4SR)-1,4-epoxy-p-menth-2-yl 2-methylbenzyl ether(cinmethylin), (17) 3,7-dichloroquinoline-8-carboxylic acid(quinclorac), (18)N-(4-methoxy-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)-N′-(2-methoxycarbonyl-phenylsulfonyl)urea(metsulfuron-methyl), (19)1-(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl)-3-mesyl(methyl)sulfamoylurea(amidosulfuron), (20)2′,4′-difluoro-2-(α,α,α-trifluoro-m-tolyloxy)nicotinanilide(diflufenican), (21) 3-(4-isopropylphenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea(isoproturon), (22) 2,6-bis(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yloxy)benzoic acid(bispyribac) and salts thereof, (23) N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine(glyphosate) and salts thereof, (24)4-[hydroxy(methyl)phosphinoyl]-DL-homoalanine (glufosinate) and saltsthereof, and (25)4-[hydroxy(methyl)phosphinoyl]-L-homoalanyl-L-alanyl-L-alanine(bilanafos) and salts thereof.
 2. The herbicide composition according toclaim 1, wherein the amount of the component (B) is in the range from0.1 to 2000 parts by mass per part by mass of the component (A).
 3. Theherbicide composition according to claim 1, wherein the component (B) isa compound selected from the group consisting ofN-(4-methoxy-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)-N′-(2-methoxycarbonyl-phenylsulfonyl)urea(metsulfuron-methyl) and1-(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl)-3-mesyl(methyl)sulfamoylurea(amidosulfuron).
 4. The herbicide composition according to claim 1,wherein the component (B) is2′,4′-difluoro-2-(α,α,α-trifluoro-m-tolyloxy)nicotinanilide(diflufenican).
 5. The herbicide composition according to claim 1,wherein the component (B) is a compound selected from the groupconsisting of ethyl(R)-2-[4-(6-chlorobenzoxazol-2-yloxy)phenoxy]propionate(fenoxaprop-(P)-ethyl) andethyl(±)-2-[4-(6-chlorobenzoxazol-2-yloxy)phenoxy]propionate(fenoxaprop-ethyl).
 6. The herbicide composition according to claim 1,wherein the component (B) is a compound selected from the groupconsisting of2-{1-[2-(4-chlorophenoxy)propoxyimino]butyl}-3-hydroxy-5-(thian-3-yl)cyclohex-2-enone(profoxydim) and(±)-(EZ)-2-(1-ethoxyiminobutyl)-5-[2-(ethylthio)propyl]-3-hydroxycyclohex-2-enone(sethoxydim).
 7. The herbicide composition according to claim 1, whereinthe component (B) is a compound selected from the group consisting of2,6-bis(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yloxy)benzoic acid (bispyribac) andsalts thereof.
 8. The herbicide composition according to claim 1,wherein the component (B) is benzophenoneO-[2,6-bis(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yloxy)benzoyl]oxime (pyribenzoxim).9. The herbicide composition according to claim 1, wherein the component(B) is a compound selected from the group consisting of4-[hydroxy(methyl)phosphinoyl]-L-homoalanyl-L-alanyl-L-alanine(bilanafos), 4-[hydroxy(methyl)phosphinoyl]-DL-homoalanine (glufosinate)and salts thereof.
 10. The herbicide composition according to claim 1,wherein the component (B) is a compound selected from the groupconsisting of N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine (glyphosate) and salts thereof.11. The herbicide composition according to claim 1, wherein thecomponent (B) is a compound selected from the group consisting ofN-(1-ethylpropyl)-2,6-dinitro-3,4-xylidine (pendimethalin) andN-butyl-N-ethyl-α,α,α-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-p-toluidine (benfluralin).12. The herbicide composition according to claim 1, wherein thecomponent (B) is (1RS,2SR,4SR)-1,4-epoxy-p-menth-2-yl 2-methylbenzylether (cinmethylin).
 13. The herbicide composition according to claim 1,wherein the component (B) is ethyl(RS)-2-chloro-3-[2-chloro-5-(4-difluoromethyl-4,5-dihydro-3-methyl-5-oxo-1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-4-fluorophenyl]propionate(carfentrazone-ethyl).
 14. The herbicide composition according to claim1, wherein the component (B) is 3-(4-isopropylphenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea(isoproturon).
 15. The herbicide composition according to claim 1,wherein the component (B) is S-2-chloro-benzyl diethylthiocarbamate(orbencarb).
 16. The herbicide composition according to claim 1, whereinthe component (B) is5-dipropylamino-α,α,α-trifluoro-4,6-dinitro-o-toluidine (prodiamine).17. The herbicide composition according to claim 1, wherein thecomponent (B) is 3,7-dichloroquinoline-8-carboxylic acid (quinclorac).18. The herbicide composition according to claim 1, wherein thecomponent (B) is 1-(2-methylcyclohexyl)-3-phenylurea (siduron).
 19. Theherbicide composition according to claim 1, wherein the component (B) ismethyl sulfanilylcarbamate (asulam).
 20. The herbicide compositionaccording to claim 1, wherein the component (B) is3′,4′-dichloropropionanilide (propanil).
 21. A method for controllinggrowth of weeds in a land which comprises the step of sprinkling theherbicide composition defined in claim 1 over the land where the weedsgrow.
 22. The method for controlling growth of weeds in a land accordingto claim 21, wherein the amount of the herbicide composition sprinkledover the land in the form of a powder agent, finely granulated agent orgranulated agent is in the range from 0.1 g to 5 kg as the total amountsof the components (A) and (B) per 10 ares area of the land.
 23. Themethod for controlling growth of weeds according to claim 21, whereinthe concentration of the components (A) and (B) as a total in theherbicide composition in the form of an emulsified agent, liquid agent,flowable agent or hydrated agent is in the range from 10 to 500,000 ppmby mass.